APCO Objects to FCC’s Proposed Air-to-Ground Order
The Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials urged the FCC to delay any order on air-to-ground (ATG) communications until interference issues potentially affecting public safety are resolved. The filing made late Tues. is expected carry weight at the FCC because of the interest in protecting public safety. An ATG order is otherwise expected to get a vote at the Nov. agenda meeting.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
The filing also came as the FCC staged a “great debate” on ATG on Wed., calling in AirCell, Boeing, Verizon’s AirFone and Space Data to make their case before staff from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology on the merits of their ATG proposals.
“APCO is very concerned that some of the ATG proposals under review could lead to new sources of dangerous interference to both current and future public safety licensees in the 806-809.75/851-854.75 MHz band,” the group said in the filing. “It is not clear that either the Commission or the parties in the ATG proceeding have devoted sufficient attention or analysis to this potential adjacent band interference problem.”
“Whenever public safety says something we take it very seriously,” one FCC source said. “It definitely will be weighed.” But the source also said a long delay may be unrealistic, adding, “At the very least we'll respond in the order.”
“Any concerns raised by public safety are always going to be given a lot of weight,” said a wireless industry source. “But there’s a lot of momentum on this right now so it’s hard to think that this could completely slow things down.”
The central fight is over whether the FCC should award exclusive licenses, as favored by AirFone, or allow band sharing among competing carriers, as requested in a separate proposal offered by Boeing and AirCell. Some FCC staff have asked the latter companies to work together to develop a joint proposal (CD Oct 5 p2).
The parties continue to make their case at the FCC. AirFone said history is on its side as it argues for an exclusive use model. “This is the same licensing model that has been successfully used with other commercial mobile radio services, such as cellular… and has proven to be the best means to ensure the most efficient use of spectrum and the prompt delivery of innovative services to the public.” But AirCell argued in a recent filing that competition is “key to innovation, variety and price.”